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Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

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    Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

    Hello everyone,
    I just started really using my vudu box. I must say it is really great! I love the instant playback of HD & SD movies. Truly awesome...

    I want to make a suggestion here and get some feedback:

    When I rent a movie from BlockBuster, I pay $4.29 for it. I have basically 30 days to return it without being charged.

    When I rent a movie from vudu, I pay $3.99 for it. I have 30 days to watch the film, and a 24 hour viewing period once I begin.

    Well, let's say I truly love the movie and I want to buy it (assume the retail price is: $19.99).

    If I buy it from BlockBuster the movie only costs $15.70 ($19.99 - $4.29 [the rental fee])

    If I buy it from vudu the movie costs $23.98 ($19.99 + $3.99 [the rental fee]).

    With BlockBuster you save $8.28... Wouldn't it be great if vudu subtracted the rental fee from the 'buy it now price'?!?!

    -Matt

    #2
    Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

    I agree with you.

    I'd like to add one similar suggestion to this one. ONce you've finished watching a rented movie it's impossible to then purchase until the 24 viewing period expires.

    The other night I watched 3:10 to Yuma and right after I finished watching it I decided I wanted to purchase it but I couldn't. I can now that the rental period has expired.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

      I must say that this is the first thing I thought of when I rented my first movie with my Vudu. Again, it's probably just the movie industry just holding them back.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

        Well, there are different licenses agreements for the distribution of a movie:

        - Physical Media has one license
        - Digital Purhcase has one license
        - Digital Rental has one license

        So with physical media, being that purchase and rental are covered under the same "physical media" license, you can do what you ask. But digital content is another story at this time and the license differences are the reasons that we have different rent vs. buy times, etc.

        If only it were consumer friendly!

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          #5
          Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

          This has been requested before and I'd vote for this feature too. I don't know if this is a licensing issue. When Blockbuster does that, don't you think it's them who are biting the bullet on price difference, i.e. they still owe the same price for the disk sold to the distributor. So, theoretically, Vudu could offer such deals in the future only they'd have to absorb the cost themselves.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

            Originally posted by gibbs0828 View Post
            Well, let's say I truly love the movie and I want to buy it (assume the retail price is: $19.99).

            If I buy it from BlockBuster the movie only costs $15.70 ($19.99 - $4.29 [the rental fee])

            If I buy it from vudu the movie costs $23.98 ($19.99 + $3.99 [the rental fee]).

            With BlockBuster you save $8.28... Wouldn't it be great if vudu subtracted the rental fee from the 'buy it now price'?!?!
            Well your idea is good but your math is a little off. With Blockbuster, since you pay both the $15.70 and the $4.29 rental fee, you end up paying $19.99 not $15.70. You can't subtract the rental fee from Blockbuster but count it for Vudu. With Vudu you end up paying only an additional $3.99.

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              #7
              Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

              IMO, just another reason to do rentals only.

              You could watch Yuma (or whatever) 4-5 times for the price to own it.

              And as great as it was... would your really want to watch it that many times?

              Save your money and just rent.
              I could be suave, but how many crude guys do you know?

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

                I agree. Even if you did happen to watch any particular movie enough to make purchasing it worthwhile, you certainly won't do that for all of them and it would be really difficult to know which ones you would watch that much. Some movies hold up better than others. Some just don't seem so good a few years later.

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                  #9
                  Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

                  Originally posted by redwein View Post
                  I agree. Even if you did happen to watch any particular movie enough to make purchasing it worthwhile, you certainly won't do that for all of them and it would be really difficult to know which ones you would watch that much. Some movies hold up better than others. Some just don't seem so good a few years later.
                  And don't forget about bit rot. Digital media doesn't really last forever.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

                    Well, I am a rental guy but I'd still like to see that option for people who like to buy movies. I've never bought movies at Blockbuster in that manner though since I usually can get them cheaper at Amazon.

                    However, my view is that if you were buying a movie, physical media would be a way to go until digital media offers the same extras (commentary, deleted scenes, and such). Because if I am buying a movie, it's not for one-time viewing and I will likely watch it several times with commentaries and take advantage of all the extras.

                    I must say movies that movies like that do not come on my radar too often. But I watched "Garden State" on DVD and if it ever comes out in high-def, I'll get it. And oh, whenever "Heist" gets high-def release, I am going to be the first in line -- it's such an awesome caper movie.
                    Last edited by Rusdude; 02-16-2008, 12:26 PM. Reason: Corrected spelling of "Heist"

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                      #11
                      Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

                      Any word on whether or not this is possible??
                      -Matt

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

                        Originally posted by gibbs0828 View Post
                        Any word on whether or not this is possible??
                        -Matt
                        Anything's possible. This great idea has already been submitted a few times (even before the Vudu was released to the public). I hope it happens someday, but I don't think it will be anytime soon.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

                          The 24 hour viewing period is terrible. I rented a movie at 3 in the afternoon. Got 1/2 way done and then I had to step out for an early dinner. By the time I got home it was 11. I only had time for 1/2 an hour. The next day was a work day so by the time I got home I couldn't finish my movie-- it was gone

                          This really needs to be changed... Any word on whether this will happen. At least let me finish my movie!

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

                            Originally posted by gibbs0828 View Post
                            The 24 hour viewing period is terrible....[snip]...
                            This really needs to be changed... Any word on whether this will happen. At least let me finish my movie!
                            No word that I can give. If it changes, we'll be coming on here all excited and announcing it. It's well heard that this is problemo numero uno. If it ever can get fixed, rest assured it will be and we will tell it.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Suggestion: Rent... Then Buy!

                              Originally posted by NA9D View Post
                              No word that I can give. If it changes, we'll be coming on here all excited and announcing it. It's well heard that this is problemo numero uno. If it ever can get fixed, rest assured it will be and we will tell it.
                              So I take it even if your request for AppleTV-like implementation is approved, we won't know it until Vudu releases the feature? I just want to know if I can hold out hope or if it's impossible due to agreements. I hope it's a software/DRM issue and not a licensing issue -- it's bad enough Vudu isn't permitted to output HD over component even though AppleTV and Xbox 360 do that.

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